The operating room is one of the most common places for surgeons and operating room medical staff to experience a needlestick. However, these issues are preventable with effective sharps safety procedures and practices in place.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, OSHEA, and the American Nurses Association, there are several sharps safety strategies that can be put in place to reduce these types of injuries.
Double Gloves
Technicians, nurses, and surgeons should be wearing double gloves for all procedures. While double gloves will not prevent all sharps injuries, they are effective in reducing the number of injuries due to needlesticks.
The Neutral Passing Zone
In addition to double gloving, using a neutral passing zone for safe placement in a designed location for the exposed needles is another important step. This is only required if the surgeon is passing off the exposed needles to the scrub tech. Avoiding this completely with the use of a needle trap that is on the surgeon’s arm or attached to the drape eliminates this risk.
The Needle Trap
As part of an effectivesharps safety protocol, the surgeon’s use of a needle trap is highly recommended. The trap allows the surgeon to slide the exposed needle into a safe plastic case that prevents needlesticks.
At the same time, the scrub tech is free to begin counts and break down the operating room, eliminating the time it takes at the end of the procedure. The surgeon also has full control over the pacing of the sutures, which is another benefit of the use of these devices.
Sharp Fluidics offers the Needle Trap as an effective option for sharps safety in any operating room. To find out how this device eliminates needlesticks, contact them today to learn more.
